Our Definitive Shopping Guide To Woodbury Common
Woodbury Common: There is, in our opinion, no finer outlet center. We grew up in an outlet town—Liberty Village, thankyouverymuch—and we know that by and large, they’re pretty interchangeable. Woodbury Common is the one exception. Liberty Village did not have a Balenciaga, or a Chanel, or a Missoni. Or a Gucci, Prada, or Frette. Or, for that matter, a McDonald’s, but you see where we are going with this. Woodbury Common is special-event outlet shopping.
It is also, however, slightly overwhelming—that’s what happens when there are 220 shops to choose from. This is why we thought we’d report on our top ten must-stops, below.
A word about strategy: The problem with Woodbury Common, we have found, is that it’s so big and overwhelming that it denies a reasonable game plan. We went recently looking for ”a dress to wear to interview a singer in a band,” and left with a camera case. This is the way it will always be. Our next idea is to go with a giant sack of cash, and spend it where we must. This is definitely a better idea.
And now, in no particular, our Woodbury Common top ten. These are, of course, based in large part on our personal preferences—like, based as much on the fact we love Balenciaga more than Prada as the fact that Balenciaga has great deals. (They all have great deals.) But we know the next time we go, we’ll be stopping by each of these.
1. Balenciaga
We’re suckers for Balenciaga, and this was, without doubt, the friendliest of the big-shot designer labels. For example: “Don’t Stop Believing” was playing when we walked in. How can you not love a shop that plays “Don’t Stop Believing”? Balenciaga’s going to be one of those stores where the big discount is 20% off $1450 (we saw this there), but we also found….
Best buy: an adorable bikini, original $489, down to $151.20
2. Lululemon
Honestly, realizing that Lululemon had moved in was the most exciting moment of the day. (Besides Applebees.) Everything’s organized by size, so it was hugely apparent that the best selection went to sizes 10 and up, with a wide range of the Lululemon tops. Smaller sizes didn’t fare as well, though there were plenty of regular tees and a million Get Started jackets.
Best buys: Manifesto tanks (marked down from $44 to $39), the Not So Deep V bra (marked down from $42 to $29)
3. Off Fifth
Off Fifth is our favorite of Woodbury Common’s department stores—it has the widest range of high-end designers (Gucci, Missoni, Prada, etc), a massive denim section (with every brand you’d expect—True Religion, Joe’s, Genetic, J Brand, whatever), and a big clearance selection (including $15 Genetic jeans).
Our favorite find was an unexpected cache of Kiehl’s products (even though the prices there weren’t amazing—like $5 off for the Abyssine Cream.) But then we find a pair of Miu Miu sunglasses by the Kiehl’s lycopene cream, and we were sold, figuratively speaking, again.
Best buy: Miu Miu sunglasses, marked down from $165 to $69.99
